Frontlines

Kain stood on the northern tribe's wall, looking at the sea. The one month period seemed to have gone by in a flash. He had learned the basics of waterbending and icebending. He could now be considered an actual waterbender, but not by much. He would still fall flat compared to the waterbenders in the frontlines, because they had far more experience than him.

The waterbender warriors fighting the fire nation had honed their own battle senses by fighting. He could not react to enemy attacks as quickly as them, nor he could he make quick decisions in the middle of an intense fight.

Fighting on the frontlines alongside the actual experts could help him develop these skills that would be very useful for him in the long run.

Of course that was not the main reason he was fighting. He had to return what he owed to the northern tribe, to Maroq. No one had asked Maroq to help him train waterbending or vouch for him in front of everyone. And yet he did.

He just considered his enlistment as a way to return the kindness that the tribe members had shown him. Hopefully by figuring out when this presumed attack would happen and how he could stop it.

He suddenly heard a voice from behind him "Kain, get down from there come on its time."

He looked back to see Maroq looking up at him, grinning. It seemed that it was time for him to finally contribute to the war effort.

He climbed down an icy ladder from the top of the wall. As he landed on the ground, he was met by the sight of Maroq, Quiella and all of his friends waiting for him.

He grinned seeing all of his friends waiting for him. Besides Tamara and her family, he had gotten very close to this tight knit circle.

He walked with them, following Maroq till they reached a pier. The pier was connected directly to the vast ocean.

Next to the pier was a massive wooden ship, flying the water nation emblem. The ship had blue colored sails, rugs and banners. There was a small bridge extending out from the ship that connected to the pier that they were standing on.

This was it. The moment that he had both been looking forward to and dreading. An opportunity to get stronger, or die trying. Not that he could stop now anyways. He had already exceeded the return point to get cold feet now.

He had brought almost no luggage with him. All he had was the clothes he was wearing alongside Quiella's black gloves and fur scarf. Considering he would be getting everything at Na'Ok Thu including weapons and food, he didn't feel the need to bring anything else.

As he stepped on the bridge that connected the ship and the pier he felt a pat on the back. He turned around to see Unaq grinning, "Surprised?" he said.

Kain looked a bit puzzled as he replied, "I thought you were only going to enlist once you turned eighteen?"

Unaq's grin became even wider as he said happily, "Well, considering I turn eighteen in a week I thought I might as well join early and accompany you.

Kain felt surprised, "You shouldn't have. Thanks anyway though, it means a lot to me." Both of them walked up the bridge and onto the ships.

As a few minutes passed, more and more people started to board the ships, mostly warriors and healers, though he could see some of the crewmen coming back holding boxes of food, oil and water.

After about twenty minutes two crewmembers retracted back the bridge from the pier. After which more crewmembers took their stations around the ship, unfurling the sails, making sure everything was safe and secured to the deck.

Finally the captain emerged from below the deck. He was a lean, muscular man wearing a blue robe. He had brown, combed back hair. He was wearing multiple pieces of golden jewelry. Just looking at him, Kain could tell that this man was of high status.

He walked alongside another experienced sailor. As the captain took to the helm, all of the ship's passengers got ready. The ship finally took off, winds blowing the sails as four waterbenders stood to the sides of the ship manipulating the water into pushing the ship forward.

Kain stood next to the side of the ship that faced the pier. He stood side by side with Unaq, waving goodbye to his friends. He looked back at the faces of Tamara, Maroq, Quiella, Balon and Mara, knowing that there was a high chance that he wouldn't see them for at least a year.

As the ship sped up, the city of Agna Qel'a seemed to shrink as they moved further and further away. The city looked magnificent from afar. He watched the city dip below the horizon before relocating to the helm to have a better view of the ocean behind the ship.

As he leaned on the guard rails of the console he heard a voice from behind him, "So you're the boy the chief was telling me about?" He looked back, his facial expression turning surprised as he realized the voice came from the captain.

The captain continued, "You've been sent into the frontlines to prove that you're not a spy right?" Kain nodded, before realizing that the captain couldn't see him nod, instead replying. "Yes."

"You're pretty lucky. A year in the frontlines might be one of the most lax punishments ever given to a possible spy. Then again, you were vouched for by Maroq who has a high enough status for the chief to listen to him. Also, you being in a coma for a few days helps with your story."

Kain was surprised by the amount of knowledge this guy seemed to have, 'He must also be high up in the northern tribe. Perhaps he was another commander?'

The commander continued, "You're probably thinking who I am and how I got that information." He turned his head at Kain, "I'm Ra'Ok, a northern water tribe commander. Also current deputy leader at Na'Ok Thu"